Testimonials

Anne was my Doula and hypnobirthing teacher for my first pregnancy and she was an absolute god-send. She is the most calming, patient, knowledgeable and grounding person, and is just an incredible advocate for women and their birth preferences. She made me feel really empowered and safe during what was a very overwhelming time. I’m so glad I had her with me every step of the way. My time with her prepared me for the birthing experience and gave me great tools to deal with its many twists and turns. She was there with me every moment during my very long birth experience, and there are many moments I don’t think I could have coped without her calm guidance, care and advocacy. She made sure my wants and needs were heard and adhered to when I felt at my weakest. An amazing woman with incredible knowledge and experience – I couldn’t recommend Anne enough.

Thank you so much for your support during both pregnancy and (most importantly!) during labour.  It was invaluable having you there and I keep raving about how great doulas are to random pregnant woman!

From the start Anne was supportive, understanding and helpful.  She listened to my concerns and through the birth of our daughter, her support was fantastic.  Anne really helped us to stay focused. Having Anne as our doula was awesome! 

This was my fourth baby, my second VBAC and the first one to have a doula, and Anne was exactly what I was looking for.  I wanted a natural birth – as natural as I could get, as I had to have my baby in the hospital.  We were very comfortable with Anne from the first time we met.  She gave us alot of information that we didn’t know; about my rights, and natural ways to deliver, and cope with labour.

While in labour, Anne just said and did everything I needed her to do.  I had the quick natural drug-free birth that I wanted.  We would highly recommend Anne to anyone who was considering employing a doula.

Choosing Anne as our doula was the easiest and best decision I’ve ever made!

Anne supported our family throughout pregnancy, with hypnobirthing sessions at our home when our toddler was in bed, she provided emotional support when I had difficulties with healthcare professionals and she was always 100% supportive and respectful of my birth choices. 

During our antenatal meetings and hypnobirthing sessions I feel we got to know Anne and she got to know us as a family. We all felt totally comfortable with each other. Anne helped us to learn more about the natural processes of pregnancy, labour and birth. Using hypnobirthing techniques I went from being worried about labour and birth – due to a previously traumatic birth, to being excited and looking forward to the birth. What a transformation! (Also, I can’t imagine a voice better suited to hypnobirthing than Anne’s, so soothing)

We had been planning a VBAC at home, which was not always well received by doctors and midwives, but Anne respected our decision and was sympathetic to our reasons for this. She was always there for me when I needed reassurance or to re-frame or re-focus my thoughts. She provided much needed emotional support and reminded me of my hypnobirthing tool kit when I needed it. 

After prodromal labour at home for 4 nights (and Anne’s middle of the night support though some of this time), at 42+1 weeks, my hopes of a home birth came shattering around me when I learnt at a routine appointment that baby was struggling during mild contractions and the decision was made for an immediate emergency cesarean. 

Due to my previous traumatic cesarean this was my worst nightmare, but I knew what to do. I contacted Anne, I just knew she would make it all OK for me. She dropped everything to be with me, arriving even before my husband did. She was like an angel walking into that hospital room. I felt my fears melting away. She reminded me of my hypnobirthing and I went into theatre feeling that bit more at peace. She stayed with my husband while I was prepped and provided much needed support for him too. She reminded him of hypnobirthing tools to help me during the operation and she waited for us to come out of theatre. 

Having Anne there and having our hypnobirthing strategies turned what was my worst nightmare into a positive experience. I avoided the trauma that I experienced during my first (planned) cesarean and managed to have a peaceful, positive experience of an emergency section. That’s quite the miracle!

I feel so honoured to have had Anne be part of our journey. She will always be so special to our family.

I hired Anne as my doula for the birth of my second child (a planned HBAC) and she was absolutely amazing. Anne was with me every step of the way through my pregnancy, supporting and offering guidance to help me make important decisions.

My labour was very long, but she stayed with me the whole time. She advocated for me and made sure that every step of the way my voice was heard and that my decisions were respected.

I didn’t get the birth I wanted in the end, but I came away feeling positive about the birth. This is largely because throughout the birth I felt in control, respected and listened to and that’s thanks to Anne. I’m so glad I had Anne with me as my Doula, having her by my side advocating for me made all the difference and I’m so thankful to her!

This was our 3rd baby, the first two births had been traumatic both involving severe perineal tears. Despite this my gut instinct was to try a normal delivery again but wasn’t sure how to make it any different from before. I was reading the positive birth book and it said about doulas and how continuity of care before, during and after birth improved parents overall experience ( not just birthing lady but partner too). This made so much sense to me, it is such an important time and you remember every detail so well. Why not invest some money in someone to be focused solely to support you and be your advocate. So we searched for local doulas and found Anne.  Anne responsed very quickly and arranged to meet us. Immediately on meeting her I felt comfortable and cared for. She listened to our previous experiences and concerns about this pregnancy and birth with empathy.  Deciding to have Anne support us is one of the best choices we have made. 

We arrived at hospital and met Anne there,  she was great at helping communicate with hospital staff. I wanted to labour in the birth pool but staff felt there may not be time.  Anne suggested beginning to run the water and see how we got on. We ended up having a beautiful water birth which wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for Anne.

She was a big support to my partner. I know he felt empowered and confident with her support. He truly was the “Guardian of oxytocin”!!

She helped with all the small things that we wanted but wouldn’t have been able to do during labour to keep birth calm, natural, lighting, music, lavender, took photos etc. 

Anne is very experienced and I would highly recommend her services. She is a lovely person and will always be very important to us. Anne is passionate about her work and I know she was genuinely overjoyed and honoured to be part of our journey. 

After this birth I felt euphoric, empowered, proud and connected.  It was one of the best experiences of my life.

Anne was absolutely invaluable to us throughout my pregnancy. We heard about Anne through two different couples who both had home births. From the moment I got in contact with Anne I just loved her. Anne has such a calming presence and a wealth of knowledge on birthing. You can just tell that she loves her job so much. I had read a hypnobirthing book and done a free course already but I didn’t gain half the knowledge as I did with Anne’s course. I would recommend everyone to do the hypnobirthing with Anne. Anne really went above and beyond for me and I never would have been able to stand up for myself without her. The whole experience was so amazing and spiritual and helped to create a closer bond between myself, my partner and our baby boy. I will stay in contact with Anne and will not hesitate to have her involved in any future births we may have.

When I tell you I would have baby no.6 just to have Anne by my side again I would in a heartbeat, but we must sensibly halt at 5 😅 Jesting aside, I wish I had of new Anne years ago, if I did I would have had her at every birth without hesitation.

Anne is a wonderful woman, kind, compassionate and gentle. Her skill, knowledge and advocation for women’s rights for bodily autonomy in pregnancy and birth is brave, admiral and extraordinary.

She taught me things I thought I already knew, but with her help I was no longer afraid to speak up to ensure I had the pregnancy and birth I wanted and deserved, and with her guidance that’s exactly what I received with knowing my rights.

My birth was beautiful, magical with 2 realms meeting in harmony together bringing my daughter earthside into the water.

No stress, no fuss, no hands, just me birthing my baby myself with Anne supporting me with positive messages the whole way through.

A whole lot more to the story which I’ve shared on various social media platforms and I could write pages and pages of my beautiful experience but I will keep this short.

Anne is an earth angel, a beautiful gentle soul and I’m eternally grateful ours paths crossed in this life.

Thank you Anne.

I was birth partner for my daughter, Rachel, who had her first baby in Belfast.  Anne’s presence made the whole experience a great joy for us both.  She greatly contributed to the calm environment during the short labour. Together with the attentive care of doctors and midwives a healthy happy boy was born and now 3 weeks old he is enjoying his new surroundings! Thank you again,  Anne.